As a society we are constantly inundated with information. This is a beautiful thing. We, quite literally, have countless tools at our finger (or thumb) tips. And can gain access to resources that give us answers like never before.
Don’t know? Just Google it.
In so many ways, this has made our lives much easier. Just ask anyone who used to have to go to the library to look something up in an Encyclopedia.
But despite this, sometimes I am left feeling more confused. Less able to glean the answer, rather than more empowered to make the right decision. Sometimes, I get caught down the Google “rabbit hole” never to be seen again. Eventually, I come back up, anxious and terrified. Or even mad. Desperate to just have the permission to listen to my own gut. To trust what I know as a parent. To trust what feels right for my family and me, and then to do that very thing, without guilt, because someone else said there is a better way.
Yes, we need accurate information and logic. We have all seen what happens when we don’t use it. But sometimes we just know. We don’t know why we know, we just do. Call this “knowing” what you will. “Gut feelings,” “Mother’s Intuition” (don’t forget dads have it too), “inner wisdom,” “My bad knee knows when it’s gonna rain” (ok, not that one, but maybe).
Intuition has been defined as “the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning,” and the field of neuroscience is even discovering that some parts of intuition are linked to unconscious cognitive processes. Things that our brain is doing without our awareness.
For example, memory research has discovered that implicit memory is information we acquire without knowing it. Simply put, we miss things on a conscious level but unconsciously we are still obtaining and retaining them, and this information comes back to us in the form of intuition. This is happening all the time, throughout our entire life. So it makes sense that we get a sense of when something “feels” right or wrong, because we have retained information about it somewhere along the way.
The amount of information we receive is increasing at an alarming rate. Practicing awareness of our intuition is not really an option – it’s vital. I am not proposing we make decisions willy-nilly because they make us feel a certain way. It’s important to do your research. However, I do argue, it’s equally important to tap into your own inner guidance because there is a reason it’s there. Listening to it can lead you to that person, website or place. It can be a wise shortcut to find answers. Ultimately, doing both can make for a more informed decision. Especially when it comes to our children.
It’s not lost on me that this is another article that can be found down that Google rabbit hole. That I am guilty of producing the same information that I complained of above. But in spite of that, I am hoping that the next time you feel your insides pointing you in a certain direction, you are encouraged to practice being aware. To slow down, take time to be still, pay attention, be curious. You never know what your gut may reveal.
Interested in delving into this topic even more? In the month of March 2018, I am partnering with communications specialist Kristy Lenuzza for Parents Soaring: From the Inside Out. An interactive workshop aimed at discovering and uncovering the parent you want to be. . Check out https://www.mvcc.edu/cced or 315-792-5300 for details and registration.
Was this helpful? Email me your thoughts at jennie@jenniemazzajones.com.
Are you feeling like the daily struggle is just too much? Are you worried your child may have needs that extend beyond what you are currently able to offer them? Do you live in Central New York? If you are interested in learning more about psychotherapy and play therapy for your child I can be reached at 315-737-3094 or jennie@jenniemazzajones.com
Jennie Mazza Jones, LCSW, CCPT has a private practice located in Clinton NY, where she specializes in providing psychotherapy to children and their caregivers utilizing Play Therapy. Jennie helps kids who long to feel accepted, want to do well, and wish they could control their worries, anger, and behaviors, but struggle because they communicate in a way that many adults don’t understand. She also helps parents/caregivers who want to help the important children in their lives reach their truest potential, but are afraid to make the wrong move, fear the worst, or are just unsure of what to do next. Jennie can be reached 315-737-3094, jennie@jenniemazzajones.com and www.jenniemazzajones.com